Category Archives: Quantum Physics

By Hana Ahmed, Brittany Edelmann and Daphne YaoMedill Reports

Near light-speed collisions of streams of subatomic particles at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory near Batavia have helped identify several of the 17 known building blocks of matter, leading to continuing and newfound discoveries about the universe.

One experiment focuses on neutrino physics. But first, what is a neutrino?

Neutrinos are nearly undetectable particles with no charge and masses so tiny that they dont like to interact with anything, said Fermilab postdoctoral research associate David Caratelli. That makes neutrinos difficult to catch and study, even though trillions of them are flowing through each of us every second, and leads to more and more questions about them, he says. So then how do we learn about these particles, elusive even though they are everywhere?

Neutrinos are related to the forces that produce fusion energy in stars including our sun, helping to power the sun.

In 2015, a Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded for the discovery of neutrino oscillations, otherwise known as the ability of a neutrino to change from one type to another, showing that neutrinos have at least some mass. This discovery was a key element that goes beyond what our current theories predict, Caratelli said of a breakthrough made by Takaaki Kajita and Arthur B. McDonald.

But, as most good research does, the discovery prompted scientists to ask even more questions. What if there is something more beyond the neutrino oscillations that we are currently unaware of? That led to the development of further neutrino research at Fermilab.

To answer this question, Caratelli focuses on trying to find out if there are more kinds of neutrinos than the three that are currently known. To follow the trail, large detectors at different distances are filled with liquid argon and the electronics inside are used to take photos of infrequent neutrino interactions and measure the changes in the type of neutrinos, Caratelli explained. In one case, to optimize the chances of detecting interactions, the distance spans several hundred miles to an underground detector in Minnesota.

The detector that Caratelli works with, known as MicroBooNE, has been collecting data for about five years and is starting to provide first answers to this question, Caratelli said. This detector is located on the Booster neutrino beamline at Fermilab.

There are still many questions in relation to neutrinos because of how difficult they are to study. These questions are very connected to the deepest questions of particle physics related to how our universe came to be, and why our universe is dominated by matter versus anti-matter, Caretlli said.

For a while, we understood electrons, protons and neutrons to be the smallest building blocks of the universe. Physicists now know that particles are, in fact, much more numerous. Protons and neutrons are made up of smaller, still more fundamental particles, while electrons are their own fundamental particles. Altogether, 17 fundamental particles have been discovered so far as part of the Standard Model of matter.

New research regarding muons small, electron-like fundamental particles that only survive for 2 millionths of a second before they decay recently made headlines around the world. Their behavior suggests an 18th particle because the muon shows sensitivity to forces that were not accounted for by current theories. The news reached over 3.5 billion people earlier this year.

At Fermilab, where the goal is to understand these fundamental building blocks of nature, scientists have been working on the Muon g-2 experiment for about 10 years. Im having this fundamental realization now, said Chris Polly, a physicist at Fermilab and the co-spokesperson for the Muon g-2 project. When youre going into particle physics, youre lucky if you get to do (a new) experiment every 10 years.

Scientists at the Fermilab were especially lucky this time. Years of experimenting and theorizing have led to results that Polly says strongly suggest there must be an 18th particle out there, meaning the possibility of discovering a brand-new fundamental particle.

In February, over 170 collaborating scientists gathered for the unveiling of results from the decadelong project. Scrutinizing muons within their milliseconds lifetime in particle accelerators boosted by superconducting magnets at Fermilab, scientists found these particles behaved differently than what the Standard Model predicted.

The Standard Model is a well-established theory of particle physics that describes the interactions between elementary particles like muons and electrons. These elementary particles are constantly surrounded by other particles that pop in and out of existence, changing the behavior of the particle being measured. Nearly 36 years after the framing of the Standard Model, scientists are challenging this commonly accepted theory.

Particles that have an electric charge, like muons, naturally generate an internal magnetic field of their own, known as the magnetic moment. Scientists sought to measure the strength of this magnetic moment by observing the rate at which these particles spin in a lab-generated external magnetic field. The magnetic moment should be proportional to a constant, known as the g-factor. According to previous theories of quantum physics, the value of the g-factor should always be two.

Yet, in the Muon g-2 experiment, scientists found evidence that the g-factor is greater than two. This discovery implies either the existence of a new particle or something incorrect about the way scientists currently understand interactions between elementary particles.

When the Muon g-2 experiment found that the g-factor deviated from the accepted value of two, scientists posited that this is likely because there is a new particle changing the behavior of the muon.

Fermilabs results agree well with previous experiments conducted at Brookhaven National Laboratory in 2001. But the experiments at Fermilab, using near-frictionless superconducting magnets, confirmed the results repeatedly. Polly also took part in the Brookhaven experiments as a graduate student. The results of the Fermilab Muon g-2 experiments are more precise and show more of a difference. The experimental average now significantly deviates from the theoretical value of 2, with only a 1 in 40,000 chance that you could get such results are purely coincidental. As such, results from the Muon g-2 experiments will surely spark a new round of theoretical speculation of what the universe is fundamentally like.

Maybe there are monsters lurking out there, Polly said.

Hana Ahmed, Brittany Edelmann and Daphne Yao are health and science reporters at Medill. You can follow them on Twitter at @Hana_Ahmed045, @brittedelmann, @daphnecyao.

More here:

Fermilab following clues to unravel the latest mysteries of the universe - Medill Reports Chicago - Medill Reports: Chicago

Published: Oct. 27, 2021 at 8:10 AM CDT

SHENZHEN, Chinaand BOSTON, Oct. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Signet Therapeutics and XtalPi Inc., a physics-based, AI-powered drug R&D company, announced the expansion of their AI drug discovery collaboration to include a new first-in-class program against a novel cancer target identified by Signet. The two companies entered into a strategic collaboration in 2020 and successfully identified pre-clinical candidates for a new gastric cancer target in approximately six months. The follow-on project will continue to combine XtalPi's AI drug discovery platform with Signet's unique novel organoid disease models to generate pipeline candidates for Signet and advance them toward clinical trials.

A significant challenge to developing new therapeutics is the ability to expand the search beyond known structures and accurately screen through a copious supply of novel molecules to identify top candidates with a desirable drug property profile indicative of development potential. Pharmacodynamics is a key factor in lead optimization and drug design. However, traditional cell-based in vitro studies have considerable limitations in modelingdrug effects in the human bodyand often produce unreliable efficacy data that can lead to clinical failure.

XtalPi has developed an AI drug discovery workflow that integrates its algorithm-driven platform with expert domain knowledge and targeted small-batch experiments. This three-pronged approach can generate novel scaffolds beyond the conventional boundaries of known chemical space and predict molecular behaviors as well as important physicochemical and pharmaceutical properties with enhanced accuracy. The generative and prediction models continue to improve their outcome through iterations in a closed-loop feedback process, with insights from XtalPi's team of medicinal chemists and high-quality data from its high-throughput wet lab, until promising candidates are validated in experiments. This workflow has been shown to substantially cut down the research time, costs, and experiments needed between target identification and IND-enabling experiments.

Signet Therapeutics was founded by scientists from Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, with extensive experience and unique expertise in oncology research. Using real-world cancer genomics data, the Signet team developed novel organoid disease models specific to cancer subtypes that simulate the unique 3D environment of organ tissues, yielding data with much higher clinical relevance. The two companies' first collaboration successfully combined XtalPi's AI-powered one-stop drug discovery capabilities with Signet's insight and functional biology platform and identified novel molecules with superior in vitro performance that are now quickly advancing toward clinical trials.

Building upon existing success, the two companies will continue to apply the tried-and-true collaboration model of "AI drug discovery + novel disease models". XtalPi's AI platform will generate an extra-large chemical space containing millions of molecules with high binding affinity to the cancer target discovered by Signet. After assessing these molecules by their predicted key drug properties such as selectivity, drug-likeness, novelty, and synthesizability, a smallbatchof top-ranking molecules is synthesized in XtalPi's lab and passed on to Signet's platformfor biological and functional evaluations. XtalPi will then use the data from organoid/based and biochemistry tests to further finetune its AI models and recommend increasingly potent drug candidates. Through such Design-Make-Test-Analyze cycles, XtalPi's AI platform and team of medicinal chemists work together to zero-in on molecules ofstrong bioactivity and a balanced drug property profile with minimal synthetization experiments.

Dr. Shuhao Wen, XtalPi's co-founder and chairman, says, "We are excited to expand our collaboration with Signet, which allows us to develop XtalPi's AI platform into new application areas and accelerate the growth and progression of Signet's first-in-class pipeline to provide much-needed treatment options for cancer patients worldwide. XtalPi aspires to be a strong partner for innovative biotech companies like Signet and empower the quick translation of new biological discoveries into promising new clinical candidates."

"XtalPi's AI drug discovery platform and Signet's novel disease models platform are highly complementary," says Dr. Haisheng Zhang, founder and CEO of Signet. "The value of XtalPi's AI is not only reflected in its incredible efficiency, but more importantly, in the discovery of de-novo molecules with strong clinical potential, helping us reach milestones in record speed. We look forward to working closely with XtalPi as an important partner in developing our first-in-class pipeline and bringing forth more targeted drugs to underserved disease markets."

About XtalPi Inc.

We are a quantum physics-based, AI-powered drug R&D company with the mission to revolutionize drug discovery and development by improving the speed, scale, novelty, and success rate. With operations in both China and the U.S., we strive to deploy the best capabilities and resources available to us in each market to meet the needs of our customers and collaborators.

We operate an integrated technology platform that combines the mutually informing and reinforcing cloud supercomputing-powered in silico tools and our wet lab, and enables discovery and development of innovative therapeutics at a pace and scale beyond traditional alternatives. We are among the pioneering AI-powered drug R&D companies in the world that have established a platform with an iterative feedback loop between quantum physics-based dry lab and wet lab capabilities.

About Signet Therapeutics

Signet Therapeutics is developing new medicines to improve the lives of patients diagnosed with cancer, especially those insensitive to chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

By strategically collaborating with XtalPi, we bring together the expertise of an AI-powered drug discovery platform and our unique novel disease models to discover and optimize promising new candidates for novel targeted cancer drugs. By taking these advantages, we hope to revolutionize traditional drug discovery for small molecules.

Contact: Ruyu Wang (617) 717-9867 ruyu.wang@xtalpi.com

View original content to download multimedia:

SOURCE XtalPi Inc.

The above press release was provided courtesy of PRNewswire. The views, opinions and statements in the press release are not endorsed by Gray Media Group nor do they necessarily state or reflect those of Gray Media Group, Inc.

Read more:

XtalPi and Signet Expand AI Drug Discovery Collaboration to Novel Cancer Target - wyomingnewsnow.tv

Some entrepreneurs can point to a single moment that defined their trajectory, but that is not the case for me. In fact, my career path has been defined by understanding when a new path was necessary and seizing the opportunity to take it.

I started my career as a carpenter, then went to university to become a quantum physicist. Not a typical occupational decision, to be sure. But I found inspiration again during my schooling (or perhaps it found me). After a personal incident, which Ill explain later, a light bulb moment occurred: What if we reimagine the medical records retrieval process? Lets simplify access for patients and make it easier for them to share their information with whoever needs it. That idea led me to where I am today.

Over time, three lessons have stuck with me and have guided me through some of the most challenging career decisions Ive had to make: Define and stay true to your mission, embrace the concept of conviction and be willing to bet big. While the journey to where I am today hasnt been the easiest, Ive found that dedicating myself to these three principles has served me well.

So many times, you know what you want to do, but do you know why you want to do it? Every entrepreneur should spend time answering this question honestly. There are many motivating factors for starting a business, but there must be a reason for doing it that resonates deeply within you.

That is your mission, and it must be grounded in your core values and beliefs. Your mission will serve as your companys North Star, guiding your next moves. But just identifying your mission isnt enoughyou have to execute it consistently, even if that means passing on an opportunity that isnt in line with the mission statement.

Because youll also be surrounding yourself with those who believe in the mission, staying true to it is key to maintaining the culture youre trying to nurture. Your staff must also feel empowered to share ideas that will enforce the mission and speak up when they think specific plans dont live up to it.

If you dont believe in what youre doing, no one else will either. So if youre all-in on your mission, you must exude that conviction. For example, a VC firm or potential customer is not only investing in your idea, but also in your ability to execute on that idea. That same sense of confidence goes for keeping a staff who can move the company forward. Your people wont embrace the mission if they dont see that passion from leadership.

To be fair, this suggestion might seem to contradict previous advice about being willing to pivot. While it is undoubtedly a fine line, I believe the two are equally crucial to suggestions. Someone wise once told me you should have strong opinions, weakly held. Yes, you should believe 100 percent in your idea, but you should challenge yourself to see if evidence suggests that you could be on the wrong path and move decisively.

While conviction is critical, there are times when evidence indicates that another idea simply makes more sense. I learned this lesson more than once.

Nine years ago, my father-in-law was diagnosed with terminal cancer and fought a long battle across multiple hospital systems, providers and caregivers. Amid unimaginable stress, my mother-in-law was also responsible for retrieving many of his medical records from different sources to help direct the next steps of his care. It was during this time that inspiration hit.

I decided to start a company to simplify the medical records retrieval process for patients and their families. When I was pursuing quantum physics, I could never have imagined what might catapult me from my lab. When I faced the challenge to help my in-laws, the force was great and served as new inspiration to step out of my comfort zone.

Then, another difficult decision occurred a few years later after cofounding the company. Once we got the business up and running, we came to a cold realization: The market wasnt set for this kind of company when patients are the customers. It was a hard pill to swallow since we were dedicated to staying true to our original mission of helping patients gain greater control of their medical records.

At this point, it was clear that we had to be open to the possibility that our original idea, our first big bet, would not lead us to success. We shifted to a more viable business model that still helped patients gain greater control of their data while targeting specific companies that use that data to make patient lives better. Instead of rolling a snowball uphill, we realized that we could relent to the market forces while staying true to our mission. Fortunately, we bet on another model, which has put us on a very successful track and which will take us through future stages in our plan.

While my resume is unconventional, it has created a textured tapestry of experiences. More than anything, my career has reaffirmed my belief that a commitment to core values, flexibility and conviction are the foundation for long-term success.

James Bateman is cofounder and CEO of Medchart. He and his team are on a mission to simplify access to patient-authorized information for businesses beyond care.

An indispensable guide to finance, investing and entrepreneurship.

Excerpt from:

One CEOs Foundations for Success: Core Values, Flexibility and Conviction - Worth

Around seven years ago, Garrett was in a local Pizza Hut with his friends, having a day so ordinary that it is cumbersome to describe. He was 16 or thereabouts and had been told by teachers to go around nearby businesses and ask for gift vouchers that the school could use as prizes in a raffle. There were five other teenagers with Garrett, and theyd just finished speaking to the restaurant manager when suddenly, out of nowhere, Garretts body was flooded with shock. He felt cold and clammy and had an overwhelming sense that something had happened. He desperately tried to stop himself crying in front of his peers.

It was like Id just been told something terrible, the now 23-year-old from the southwest of England says (his name has been changed on his request). I couldnt tell you exactly what it was, but I just knew something had happened. Garrett returned home and tried to distract himself from a feeling he describes as grief. The phone rang. His mum answered it. A few hours earlier around the time Garrett was in the restaurant his grandfather had died from a sudden heart attack while on a cruise.

Although theres no way of knowing how many people worldwide feel that they sensed a loved ones death before being told, its a phenomenon thats been explored in everything from Star Wars to Downtown Abbey to Kung Fu Panda 2. Perhaps one of your own relatives has a story similar to Garretts perhaps you dismissed it, perhaps you treat it as family lore. Is there any evidence to suggest this phenomenon is real that humans can sense one anothers passing from a distance, that Garretts emotional afternoon was anything more than a coincidence? In a word, no. Meanwhile, it is well documented that the human mind is a bundle of bias: false memories, grief hallucinations and confirmation bias can easily explain these experiences. Besides which, for every person who feels a shiver when their loved one dies, there are hundreds more who were quietly eating pizza or happily riding a rollercoaster or bored doing maths homework completely unaware of their loss.

But are these dismissals too quick? Too easy? Some scientists claim that the complex world of quantum physics could be used to explain the paranormal (other scientists say theyre unbelievably wrong.) What can stories like Garretts tell us about what we do and dont know? What we are and arent willing to believe? About the disconnect between what some claim to experience and others claim is impossible?

Brian Josephson is your prototypical professor. With tufts of white hair atop his head, a knitted pullover and a glasses chain keeping his specs safe, he says via Zoom that, The academic community is a kind of club. Youre supposed to believe certain things and you run into problems if you disagree. In 1973, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in physics for his work on superconductivity. Later, during his time as a professor at the University of Cambridge, he began using quantum mechanics to explore consciousness and the paranormal.

Quantum entanglement nicknamed spooky action at a distance by Albert Einstein describes the (proven) phenomenon of two spatially separated particles influencing each other, even over large distances. While the phenomenon is subatomic, academics such as Josephson have theorised that quantum entanglement could explain phenomena like telepathy and psychokinesis.

There are many accounts of crisis telepathy, says Dean Radin, a parapsychologist and author of Entangled Minds: Extrasensory Experiences in a Quantum Reality. Does entanglement explain these effects? No, in the sense that entanglement as observed today in the physics lab, between pairs of photons, is extremely fragile and typically lasts only minuscule fractions of a second. But also, yes, in that we are at the earliest stages of understanding entanglement.

Radin says studies in quantum biology show that entanglement-type effects are present in living systems (academics from Oxford have successfully entangled bacteria) and he believes the human brain could in turn have quantum properties. If that is subsequently demonstrated I think its just a matter of time then that would go a long way towards providing a physical mechanism for telepathy, he says.

Put down your pen, scrunch up your letter to the editor. You only need an explanation for telepathy if you believe in telepathy in the first place, and experiments purporting its existence have been widely debunked. Josephson and Radin are regularly criticised by peers. In 2001, when Royal Mail released a set of stamps to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Nobel Prize, there was outrage when Josephson wrote in an accompanying booklet that quantum physics may lead to an explanation for telepathy. In this very newspaper, academics branded the claim utter rubbish and complete nonsense.

When reviewing Entangled Minds for The Skeptics Dictionary, philosophy professor and professional sceptic Robert Carroll wrote that Radins book was aimed at non-scientists who are likely to be impressed by references to quantum physics.

Garrett has no idea what happened to him on the day his grandad died, but he is certain that it happened. He believes in some kind of interconnectedness between people. I think if its happened to you, then theres an underlying accepting of it, he says.

This is a sentiment shared by the self-described naturally sceptical Cassius Griesbach, a 24-year-old from Wisconsin who lost his grandfather in 2012. Griesbach says that he shot awake on the night his grandad passed and began to sob uncontrollably. It felt like something just rocked me, physically, he says. When his dad called moments later to say his grandad had died, a teenaged Griesbach replied: I know.

Griesbach doesnt blame anyone for being sceptical of his story. The further you get away from it, the more I would like to write it off as a coincidence, he says, But every time I sit down and think about it, it feels like its something else. Griesbach is not super religious and doesnt believe in ghosts. If it is something to do with actual science, I would think that would be science that we are nowhere near yet, you know?

Many would disagree, arguing that the answer lies in the social sciences. In 2014, Michael Shermer married Jennifer, who had moved from Kln to California and brought with her a 1978 radio belonging to her late grandfather. Shermer tried in vain to fix it before tossing it in a drawer, where it lay silent until the couple said their wedding vows at home months later. Just as Jennifer was keenly feeling the absence of her grandfather, the radio began to play a romantic song. It continued all night before it stopped working for good the next day.

Its just one of those anomalous experiences, says Shermer, a science historian, professional sceptic and author of The Believing Brain: from Spiritual Faiths to Political Convictions. How We Construct Beliefs and Reinforce Them as Truths. Randomness and chance play a big role in life and in the world, and our brains are designed to see patterns not randomness. Shermer argues that experiences like Garretts and Griesbachs are statistically more likely than we think.

You have billions of people worldwide having dozens of dreams [each] at night, he says. The odds are pretty good that on any given night, somebodys going to have a dream about somebody dying who actually dies. Thats inevitable. At the same time, he argues, we ignore all the times we suddenly sob or shudder and it turns out that no ones died or the times when someone does die and we dont feel anything at all.

There are other prosaic explanations. While Garretts grandfathers death was sudden and unexpected, Griesbachs grandfather was hospitalised the week before he died, when he shot awake in the middle of the night, Griesbachs first thought was, It happened he knew his grandfather had passed. But is that surprising when hed spent a week by his bedside?

John Bedard, a 36-year-old in Los Angeles, woke suddenly on the night his parents died. He was 10 and sleeping at a friends house when he awoke, just knowing something was wrong. He called his brother, sobbing. When his brother picked him up, he told Bedard their parents had died in a motorcycle accident.

And yet, there were clues that something was wrong much earlier. The sleepover wasnt planned Bedard had gone to friends to play when it started getting later and later and nobody came to pick him up. It was a Sunday night an unusual night to have a sleepover. Bedard was uneasy when he went to bed.

Despite these answers, explanations continue to be toyed with. Rupert Sheldrake is a biologist and parapsychologist who conceived of morphic resonance, the idea that interconnections exist between organisms. He believes the human mind has fields that stretch beyond the brain, much like electromagnetic fields. This, he says, explains why we can seemingly tell when someone behind us is staring at us, or why we sometimes think of someone right before they call. (Sheldrakes work has been called heresy in the journal Nature.)

Im not talking about the supernatural; I think these things are totally natural. I think theyre normal, not paranormal, he says. When it comes to experiences like Garretts, he says empirical studies are impossible. You cant ask somebody to die at a randomly selected time to see if their nearest and dearest respond So unfortunately, the evidence for cases to do with death has to be circumstantial.

Shermer is not a Sheldrake fan. The idea that a biologist like Rupert Sheldrake is going to uncover some new force of nature that somehow Einstein and everybody else has missed is just so unlikely to have happened, that almost any explanation like the ones Ive been giving you are way more likely. Josephsons rebuke of such criticisms: People say that [science is] always subject to revision and yet theyre secretly convinced that certain things cant happen.

What can and cant happen doesnt change what many feel has happened Garrett, Griesbach and Bedard all believe something strange and unexplainable occurred when they lost their loved ones. At the very least, these stories undeniably offer comfort.

As far as looking into it, I dont even know what there is to look into, Griesbach says after all, the phenomenon doesnt even have a name. I think the best thing that we could do for people is validate how they feel and let them grieve. Because whenever people have that happen, theyre also grieving. That is one of the most important times to just be a kind human to somebody.

Read the original:

I knew that was going to happen The truth about premonitions - The Guardian

Ive been grappling for decades about how youd get a negativemicrowave to work, a device that very quickly cools things such as food or drinks without having to pre-fill it with something thats already cold. I understand many of the reasons why its near impossible but is it actually impossible? Maybe quantum physics can mysteriously do it. George Stewart

Send new questions to nq@theguardian.com.

I believe the most promising method to cool food or drink rapidly would be to put the plate/cup/glass in a box from which air could be pumped. The resulting increased evaporation of water would carry away heat. Advantage: No chemical contamination, no large magnetic fields etc, no need for the pressured storage of gas. Drawback: depending on the applied low pressure, evaporation may result in the explosion of parts of the meal one wants to cool, drinks could boil and spill over, which means that for safety reasons, the pressure drop should be limited. This method would be inefficient for dry food.

Alternative method: the plate/cup/glass could be placed in a volume where pressurised air from a storage bottle is allowed to expand. Just like a CO2 fire extinguisher cools, the expanding gas (which should be ambient air for safety reasons) would be very cold. Drawback: cooling would be achieved over a rapid airflow, which may be inconvenient if one wants to keep a meal on a plate or a liquid in a cup. The large thermal gradients involved may be destructive for the meal or the plate (especially if ice formation occurs). A stock of pressurised ambient air would be required.

Maybe the safest method is still simply to wait for the meal to cool down naturally while talking with a nice person. Michael Bremer

A blast chiller is the appliance you need. No quantum physics: it is a sort of super refrigerator. Use of blast chillers is prescribed in European restaurants, but it is not uncommon in private households. I am Italian and my husband has recently bought one. When he cooks too much lasagne, he uses the blast chiller to cool it down quickly, stopping bacterial growth. Food will last longer, it will be safer and when you reheat it, it will taste much much better. Valeria Andreoli

Plunging food into liquid helium will do the job for you. Its what is used to cool the MRI scanners in hospitals. At a guess, I would say each time you used it in a domestic kitchen would cost about 50, so if you think its worth it, theres your answer. Terry Eaton

Microwave ovens heat food by colliding microwaves with water molecules, exciting the electrons and making them warm up food and drink. This energy needs to be removed in some way to de-excite the electrons. In quantum mechanics, this could be achieved by increasing the wavelengths of electron vibration, making them oscillate less vigorously, so theoretically it is possible. But, as we all know, heat naturally goes from warm to cool. Warm things cool to the ambient temperature as governed by second law of thermodynamics. So, I think the question is: what is the point of creating a negative microwave if the arrow of time dictates that things will cool naturally anyway? Elvis

This has been known since the 17th century, thanks to Robert Boyle. Hold the pressure constant and decrease the pressure; temperature drops. Increase the pressure, and the temperature rises. Takes a lot of energy to do it though. Kevin Aston

Ive been grappling with this idea for many years. Tinkering in the garden shed hasnt produced any results yet. Once you have solved this, perhaps you can help me with my other project, the dark torch, which projects a field of no light. David Sogan

Sure, its possible, but not with microwaves. Instead use liquid pressurised gas that is released into a vacuum cooling chamber. This will create a very frigid environment due to the gas increasing its volume. Google the coldest place in the universe, and you will find its a rapidly expanding gas cloud with lower temperature than the rest of the universe. The effect can among others be felt when you refill a lighter with butane gas. The refiller bottle will get very cold. OJ Nordhagen, Norway

Im a nuclear scientist with a physics PhD. As you have been grappling with this for a while, I imagine you have done some research yourself so forgive me if I rehash stuff you have learned. Microwaves heat food as the electromagnetic radiation interacts with the water molecules in the food. This wavelength interacts with different vibrational modes in the molecule within the food, the energy from the microwave excites the molecule and causes it to vibrate faster. This heats the food. It especially interacts with hydrogen bonds, such as water, hydrocarbons in oil etc.

To cool, we would have to extract heat from the food. This is a little trickier and produces heat as a byproduct. One method is the laser. Negative temperatures have been produced in the lab, but dont result in a cold object as you would want. A more feasible method would involve using cold liquids and pumping heat away, just like a powerful fridge. Perhaps a quick blast of nitrogen gas at extreme cold temperatures would do it. At my work we use cryogenic temperatures, if it was possible to cool an object indirectly using a negative microwave device we would want to know! Rose Brown

A number of methods could be used to ensure that the surface of the food/object radiates heat and receives minimal incoming heat (eg, cool the walls of a metal container its in to near absolute zero.) These will rapidly cool the objects surface (flash freezing). However, there is not and cannot be any method to cool the interior of the object other than by conduction of its heat to the outside. A microwave sends electromagnetic energy to the interior, but there is no such thing as negative energy (except in weird contexts). MartinMellish

No, and the simple reason is because of the second law of thermodynamics. Its the only physical process that isnt fundamentally symmetrical (in this universe, anyway) and therefore is often regarded as defining the arrow of time. It basically states that entropy (disorder) will always increase in an isolated system. Heating increases entropy, you are working with the natural tendency of the universe, so its easy throw any energy (eg, microwaves) at anything and it just becomes more entropic without any further work. Cooling, on the other hand, means putting more order (decreasing entropy) into a system, working in the opposite direction the universe wants to go, as defined by thermodynamics, so thats a lot of additional work (and therefore energy) needed to reduce entropy (ie cool it) as increase it (heat it) by the same degree. HaveYouFedTheFish

If you put energy into something, no matter how you do it, its not going to become colder. As far as I understand, a fridge works by having energy in the air of the box working on some material in the fridge, thereby cooling the air inside. Overall the surrounding air becomes warmer than if you hadnt turned on the fridge; if you left the door open (a bad idea) it wouldnt cool the room. So even in that case, although you put energy into the device and it is cooling something, overall a fridge is heating things up.

If you could reverse time, however, you could just use a regular microwave device. You put your hot food into the microwave, wait till the microwaves have left the food to be absorbed by the device surrounding it and take out your cold food. somehowrational

Im sure that about 30 years ago they had a contraption in Threshers off-licence that you could ask them to put your bottle inside to cool it rapidly. If I remember correctly, it rattled a lot in the process. I have sometimes wondered what happened to those machines and why there is no modern equivalent. HotBurrito

The idea of using fluorescence to cool a material under optical excitation was initially proposed in the 1920s, then theoretically validated by Landau in 1946. As George Stewart expected, it relies on quantum mechanical principles: if a laser is used to drive electrons into excited states with non-equilibrium occupancies, then the electrons can absorb phonons (wave-like structural vibrations that carry heat in materials) before relaxing to a low energy state by emitting a higher-energy photon (fluorescing). This results in a net heat loss from the material and is known as anti-Stokes fluorescence: for a better description (and an example of cooling a macroscopic object from room temperature to -182C), see here.

However, if this cooling process is to outweigh the usual heating effects caused by electromagnetic wave absorption, then the material that is being irradiated must possess an extremely high quantum efficiency. This means that the electrons must follow precisely the correct sequence of excitation, absorption and emission, rather than absorbing the energy from the laser by non-radiative dissipation. To date, I believe this has only been conclusively demonstrated using ultra-high purity glasses featuring rare earth ions. (In the past decade, scientists have claimed to achieve similar laser cooling in certain semiconductors and perovskites, but the experiments have not been reproduced and remain controversial.) So I am afraid that anyone attempting to chill their gazpacho with a laser will probably be disappointed. furry_marmot

The answer here is, I think, counterintuitive. Rather than recruiting the very finest and most dedicated brains in academia and industry to research a solution to this puzzle, you need to assemble a bunch of feckless former science students who have all been thrown out of university. That way, the team is sure to achieve zero degrees and will therefore be an unqualified success. ThereisnoOwl

Continue reading here:

Readers reply: is a negative microwave a device that quickly cools food and drink possible? - The Guardian

In 1969, English physicist Roger Penrose discovered a property which would later allow for a long-awaited link between thermodynamics, and the far stranger mechanics of black holes. Through new analysis published in EPJ H, Carla Rodrigues Almeida, based at the University of So Paulo, Brazil, sheds new light on Penroses motivations and methods, and explores their historical influence on the groundbreaking discovery of Hawking radiation.

Prior to the 1950s, many physicists were reluctant to accept the idea that black holes are physical objects, consistent with the well-established laws of thermodynamics. This picture transformed entirely over the next two decades, and in 1969, Penrose showed for the first time how energy can be extracted from a rotating black hole. His theory hinged on a newly-conceived region named the ergosphere.

Although it lies just outside the boundary of a black hole, spacetime within the ergosphere rotates alongside the body, like the gas in a planets atmosphere. If a piece of matter enters the region, Penrose proposed that it may split into two parts: one of which can fall into the black hole; while the other can escape, carrying more energy than the original particle.

Over the next few years, Soviet physicist Yakov Zeldoivh explored Penroses discovery through the lens of quantum mechanics. Although his work was held back by political circumstances, Zeldoiv established friendly collaborations with Western physicists. Ultimately, the theories that emerged through these relationships led to Stephen Hawkings discovery of novel quantum effects, which can cause black holes to radiate mass. Finally, the physics community was convinced that black holes can indeed obey the laws of thermodynamics.

In her study, Almeida investigates Penroses proposal within this historical context. By revisiting original papers, analysing technological details, and exploring relationships between Western and Soviet physicists, she aims to uncover the history they hide. The article moves through the chain of reasoning which led from Penroses proposal, to an analogy between thermodynamics and black hole physics; and ultimately, to the formulation of Hawking radiation.

Reference

References: C R Almeida, The thermodynamics of black holes: from Penrose process to Hawking radiation. EPJ H 46, 20 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1140/epjh/s13129-021-00022-9

The European Physical Journal H

The thermodynamics of black holes: from Penrose process to Hawking radiation

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.

Read this article:

Black hole thermodynamics: a history from Penrose to Hawking - EurekAlert

The Department of Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy at Queens University invites applications for a Tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor with specialization in theoretical quantum optics or condensed matter physics, with a preferred starting date of July 1, 2022.

Candidates must have a PhD or equivalent degree completed at the start date of the appointment. The main criteria for selection are academic and teaching excellence. The successful candidate will provide evidence of high-quality scholarly output that demonstrates potential for independent research leading to peer assessed publications and the securing of external research funding, as well as strong potential for outstanding teaching contributions at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and an ongoing commitment to academic and pedagogical excellence in support of the departments programs and in support of promoting equity and diversity in physics. Candidates must provide evidence of an ability to work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary and student-centred environment. The successful candidate will also be expected to make contributions through service to the department, the Faculty, the University, and/or the broader community. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

People from across Canada and around the world come to learn, teach, and carry out research at Queens University. Faculty and their dependents are eligible for an extensive benefits package including prescription drug coverage, vision care, dental care, long term disability insurance, life insurance and access to the Employee and Family Assistance Program. You will also participate in a pension plan. Tuition assistance is available for qualifying employees, their spouses and dependent children. We recognize that recruiting and retaining faculty may involve considerations of spouses and domestic partners. To that end, the university provides assistance for partners seeking employment through the Faculty Recruitment and Support Program and where possible will attempt to accommodate the needs of partners of members of the faculty. Queens values families and is pleased to provide a top up to government parental leave benefits for eligible employees on maternity/parental leave. In addition, Queens provides partial reimbursement for eligible daycare expenses for employees with dependent children in daycare. Details are set out in the Queens-QUFA Collective Agreement. For more information on employee benefits, see Queens Human Resources.

Additional information about Queens University can be found on the Faculty Recruitment and Support website. The University is situated on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe, in historic Kingston on the shores of Lake Ontario. Kingstons residents enjoy an outstanding quality of life with a wide range of cultural, recreational, and creative opportunities. Visit Inclusive Queens for information on equity, diversity and inclusion resources and initiatives.

Queen's University is one of Canada's leading research-intensive universities. The Department of Physics, Engineering Physics & Astronomy at Queen's University has 33 full-time Faculty working in the areas of condensed matter physics and optics, engineering and applied physics, astronomy and astrophysics, and particle astrophysics.

The successful candidate for this position will be a theoretical or computational physicist with a research program that complements and extends the existing research activities of the Queens quantum optics and condensed matter physics group. Condensed matter physics and optics (CMPO) deals with fundamental questions about how matter is organized and how it interacts with light. CMPO explores deep fundamental physics questions, while providing new platforms for emerging technologies such as semiconductor devices and the emerging second quantum revolution. The successful candidate will amplify Queens strengths in quantum research and capitalize on this exciting time in this growing field. Researchers at Queens perform pure and applied research, with core research strength in quantum and nonlinear optics, quantum sensing, nanophotonics, neuromorphic computing, soft condensed matter, surface science, two-dimensional materials, laser machining, organic and inorganic opto-electronic devices, spintronics, and scanning probe microscopy. Faculty have ready access to major shared infrastructure at Queen's, including the Centre for Advanced Computing (https://cac.queensu.ca/), Nanofabrication Kingston (www.nanofabkingston.ca/), and collaborations with members of the Nanophotonic Research Centre. The candidate will also have the opportunity to contribute to major quantum science initiatives happening worldwide and in Canada through National Quantum Strategy, under which the federal government has committed $360M in funds.

Providing opportunities for junior faculty to develop a strong teaching and research profile and maintaining an environment where all faculty can thrive is our top priority. Support for course development and delivery is provided by the Department, the Queens Centre for Teaching and Learning, and the First day to First Sabbatical program of the Faculty of Arts and Science. Support of junior faculty to develop strong research programs includes a significant Research Initiation Grant, grant writing workshops and review services, funding support for graduate students through the Queens Graduate Award program, and one-to-one mentorship from senior faculty members.

The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Queens is strongly committed to employment equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace and encourages applications from Black, racialized/visible minority and Indigenous/Aboriginal people, women, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQ+ persons. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority.

To comply with federal laws, the University is obliged to gather statistical information as to how many applicants for each job vacancy are Canadian citizens / permanent residents of Canada. Applicants need not identify their country of origin or citizenship; however, all applications must include one of the following statements: I am a Canadian citizen / permanent resident of Canada; OR, I am not a Canadian citizen / permanent resident of Canada. Applications that do not include this information will be deemed incomplete.

In addition, the impact of certain circumstances that may legitimately affect a nominees record of research achievement will be given careful consideration when assessing the nominees research productivity. Candidates are encouraged to provide any relevant information about their experience and/or career interruptions.

A complete application consists of:

The first review of applications will begin on December 31, 2021, and will continue until a successful candidate is found.

Applicants are encouraged to send all documents in their application packages electronically in PDF format to Prof. Robert Knobel at physhead@queensu.ca , although hard copy applications may be submitted to:

Robert Knobel, Head,

The Department of Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy

Stirling Hall

64 Bader Lane

Queens University

Kingston, Ontario

CANADA K7L 3N6

The University will provide support in its recruitment processes to applicants with disabilities, including accommodation that takes into account an applicants accessibility needs. If you require accommodation during the interview process, please contact Melissa Balson in The Department of Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy, at 4mjb5@queensu.ca.

Academic staff at Queens University are governed by a Collective Agreement between the University and the Queens University Faculty Association (QUFA), which is posted at http://queensu.ca/facultyrelations/faculty-librarians-and-archivists/collective-agreement and at http://www.qufa.ca.

Read the original:

Tenure-Track Faculty Position in Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics or Theoretical Quantum Optics in Kingston, ON for Queen's University - Physics

This is the coldest temperature achieved in laboratory conditions.

Scientists have surpassed the record for the coldest temperature ever measured in a laboratory: they dropped magnetized gas 120 meters from the tower and reached a temperature of 38 trillion degrees Celsius above -273.15 Celsius.

A team of German researchers studied the so-called fifth level quantum properties: Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC), a gas derivative that exists only in the ultracolt state. At the BEC stage, matter begins to act like a large atom, making it an attractive topic for quantum physicists particularly interested in the dynamics of particles. Temperature is a measure of molecular vibration: the higher the set of molecules moving, the higher the overall temperature. Thus, zero is the point at which all molecular motions stop minus 273.15 degrees Celsius. Scientists have developed a special scale for very low temperatures called the Kelvin scale, where zero corresponds to absolute Kelvin.

As we approach zero, strange things begin to happen. For example, according to a 2017 study published in the journal Nature Physics, light actually becomes a liquid that can be poured into a container. According to a 2017 study published in the journal Nature Communications, supercooled helium stops friction at extremely low temperatures. At NASAs Cold Atomic Laboratory, researchers found atoms in two locations simultaneously.

In this record-breaking experiment, scientists captured a cloud containing approximately 100,000 atoms in a magnetic field inside a vacuum chamber. They then cooled the room to 2 degrees Celsius to 2 billion degrees above absolute zero, which would be a world record.

But its not cool enough for researchers who want to push the boundaries of physics; To be even cooler, they need to simulate deep space conditions. Thus, the team placed their installation in the Bremen Tower of the European Space Agency, the Center for Micro Gravity Research at the University of Bremen in Germany. By reducing the vacuum chamber to free fall, by quickly turning the magnetic field on and off, BEC allows it to float without retreating by gravity, which reduces the molecular motion of rubidium atoms to almost zero. As a result, BEC set an all-time record of 38 picochelins 38 trillion kelvin in about 2 seconds. Scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Boulder, Colorado, achieved the previous record of 36 ppm Kelvin using special beams. The coldest known natural site in the universe is the Boomerang Nebula, located in the constellation Centaurus, about 5,000 light-years from Earth. According to the European Space Agency, its average temperature is -272 C (about 1 Kelvin).

Read more:

Scientists have broken the record for coldest temperatures - The Press Stories

a. Wojciech urek, a prominent specialist in the field of quantum physics, was awarded an honorary doctorate from the AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow on Friday.

The university awarded the scientist with this distinction for his research achievements, including for introducing into science a new type of quantum symmetry, based on the influence of the environment on a quantum object; Co-author of the quantum Darwinian theory.

a. Wojciech urek specializes in quantum physics, statistics and astrophysics. He works at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico.

He is a well-known and highly valued figure all over the world, said AGH UST Rector, the professor. Jersey Lees. Slogans such as quantum decoherence or banning qubit cloning by physicists around the world are associated with the name of our graduate and friend Professor. Wojciech urek - stressed.

He also noted that AGH UST rarely confers honorary titles and special people receive them. Among the few scientists awarded by AGH UST in the field of chemistry and physics are two Nobel Laureates Sir Harald Kroto, discoverer of fullerenes, and Dan Shechtman, discoverer of crystals.

A. The Rector said: Wojciech urek is the most distinguished physics graduate of the AGH University of Science and Technology, whose scientific achievements and contributions to the academic community exceed our already stringent standards.

The praise was delivered by the professor. Janusz Adamovsky. He noted the biography and achievements of the professor. Shork. He emphasized, among other things, that the respected person maintains constant contacts with his university and with Polish sciences. Ludator said the research by the eminent physicist dramatically changed our views on the nature of the universe, explaining in particular how the quantum nature of the small world leads to the classical properties of the surrounding large world.

A. Wojciech urek is a world-renowned authority in the field of quantum physics, the creator of scientific theories that explain the most fundamental properties of the universe. His research also contains important practical aspects, including in materials science and the construction of a quantum computer. The laureate made a significant contribution to the The development of world sciences, and consequently the development of our civilization, - said the professor. Adamovsky.

It is with passion and great pride that I accept an honorary doctorate from my university emphasized the professor. Wojciech Schorek. In his speech, he recalled his years of study at the AGH University of Science and Technology, noting that he owed her education. He also mentioned that he met his wife here. The scientist who had grandchildren thanked his family for attending the ceremony. Max and Necia tried to come. Nyssa managed to get out of New Mexico. Max had to turn halfway. His teachers remembered.

The AGH UST campus has changed, but I still feel at home here. There are a lot of new buildings, but the nature of the place has remained the same. Krakow became unexpectedly beautiful. It was always respectful and had charm, but this beauty was hidden. Now you can See it - said the professor. urek, adding that he likes to come to Krakow very much.

He also gave a scientific lecture in which he spoke, among other things, about topological defects.

At the end of the ceremony, a congratulatory message sent to the world by the Minister of Education, Science and Higher Education Przemysaw Czarnek was read.

Wojciech urek was born in 1951 in Bielsko-Biaa. In 1974, he graduated from the Nuclear Physics Technical Faculty of the Faculty of Nuclear Physics and Technology in the Faculty of Mining and Metallurgical Electrical Engineering at the AGH University of Science and Technology. He defended his doctorate in 1979 at the University of Texas at Austin College of Physics, where until 1981 he remained in an internship with the professor. John Archibald Wheeler.

In 1981 as we read in his autobiography he joined the professors theoretical astrophysics group. Kip Stephen Thorne at Caltech where he earned Richard C. Tolman. Since 1984, he has been associated with the Los Alamos National Laboratory, where, among other things, he headed the theoretical astrophysics group.

Scientific achievements of the professor. urek has been honored with many awards, including. Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Award, Commanders Cross of the Bologna Restituta, Medal of Los Alamos, Honorary Doctorate from Jagiellonian University (PAP)

Author: Beata Koodziej

bko/pat/beech/

Read the original:

Physics professor. Wojciech urek holds an honorary doctorate from the AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow - R&R Magazine...

For a while, graphene has been a concentration of strong research in both academic and industrial backgrounds because of its unusual electrical conduction properties.

A Phys.orgreport said, as the slimmest material known to humans, graphene is particularly two-dimensional and has photonic and electronic properties from conventional 3D materials.

Researchers at Purdue University, including Todd Van Mechelen, Wenbo Sun, and Zubin Jacob, have found and shown in their research that the viscous fluid of graphene, the colliding electrons in solids with behavior similar to fluids, support unidirectional electromagnetic waves specifically on edge.

On the other hand, such edge waves are linked to a new topological stage of matter and signify a transition of phase in the material, not unlike the switch from solid to liquid.

ALSO READ: Physicists Discover Multilayered Heterostrcuture Platform to Achieve Ultrastrong Photon-to-Magnon Coupling

(Photo: Jynto on Wikimedia Commons)Comparison STM topographic image of a section of graphene sheet with spectroscopy images of electron interference

One notable feature of this new phase of graphene is that light travels a single direction along the edge of the material and is vigorous to disorder, deformation, and imperfections.

Researchers at Purdue have attached this nonreciprocal impact to developing "topological circulations," one-way routers of indications, the tiniest in the world, that could eventually be a breakthrough for on-chip, all-optical procedure.

Essentially, circulators are a fundamental building block in the so-called integrated optical circuits. However, they have resisted miniaturization due to their bulky mechanisms and the narrow bandwidth of the existing technologies.

Also indicated in the study published in the journal, Nature Communications, topological circulations are overcoming this by being both broadband and ultra-subwavelength, enabled by an extraordinarily electromagnetic phase of matter.

Applications for such technology comprise information routing and interconnects between classical and quantum computing systems.

According to a BBVAreport, to understand how quantum computing works and quantum mechanics on which it is based, there is a need to look back to the beginning of the 20th century, "when this physical theory was originally raised."

Among other subjects of research, quantum physics started with the study of the particles of an atom, including its electrons at a microscopic scale, something that has never been done in the past.

Doctor in theoretical physics, high school teacher, and advisor to an exhibition hosted at the Center of Contemporary Culture of Barcelona called Quantum, Arnau Riera defines the term as a conceptual change.

In the classical world, the systems' properties being studied are well defined. On the other hand, in the quantum world, this is not the case in which particles can have different values. They are not secluded subjects, and their states are weak, Riera explained.

In classical computing, the expert also said, "We know how to solve problems," because of computer language used when programming. More so, operators not feasible in bit computing can be carried out with a quantumcomputer.

In quantum computing, all numbers and probabilities that can be developed with the so-called N qubits are superimposed with 1,000 qubits, the exponential probabilities go far beyond those that are done in classical computing.

Related information about the graphene light project is shown Charbax's YouTube video below:

RELATED ARTICLE: Obtaining Motional Ground State of Larger-Scale Object Made Possible by Physics Experts

Check out more news and information on Nanotechnologyin Science Times.

Read the original:

Nanotech Solution: Research Unveils How Edgy Light on Graphene May Lead to Single Route of Information - Science Times